The tree daturas grow well in full coastal sun or shade with an occasional to moderate irrigation. Although cold hardy to about 20-25 degrees F, they can resprout from the base and are often semi-deciduous in colder years. Our large specimen plants of most varieties have survived short duration temperatures to around 20° F with only tip damage and repeated short duration nights down to 25° F. They benefit from a hard cut back or pruning for shape in the spring.

Brugmansia is a genus in the Potato Family (Solanaceae) that has 7 species, all from South America and the cultivated varieties are often hybrids between several of these species. The name for the genus honors the Dutch naturalist, physician and botanist Sebald Justinus Brugmans (1763-1819), who taught at the University of Leiden. Angel's Trumpet is the most used of the common names, but other names include Belladona and Tree Datura, although the latter is somewhat misleading as Datura is also a genus name to which Brugmansia is closely related and in the past was included with. The main distinguishing aspect that separates the Brugmansia from the true species of Datura is that the Brugmansia are large shrubs or small trees with pendant flowers and the Datura, or Jimsonweeds (a name corrupted from Jamestown weed), are annual or perennial herbaceous plants with upright facing flowers. The species of Brugmansia are divided into two natural, genetically isolated groups, the section Brugmansia, also known as the "Warm Group" with the species involved in most of the cultivars we grow, Brugmansia aurea, Brugmansia insignis, Brugmansia suaveolens and Brugmansia versicolor. The other section, the Sphaerocarpium, also called the "Cold Group" includes the hardier species Brugmansia arborea, Brugmansia sanguinea and Brugmansia vulcanicola.

Brugmansia 'Hetty Krauss' is a plant that was introduced from Columbia that later became known in the trade as Brugmansia 'Dr Seus'. It was accidently being sold by some nurseries (us included) as Brugmansia 'Charles Grimaldi', which is actually a hybrid created by Bartley Schwarz with Brugmansia 'Hetty Krauss' as one parent. It has exceptionally large orange-yellow flowers with strongly recurved petals in summer-fall. Compared to 'Charles Grimaldi this cultivar has broader flowers (to 7-8" wide) with a shorter tube (to 10" long) and the flower color is not as dark and it lacks the distinct hair on the outside of the flowers. The large leaves of this cultivar are pale green with slightly toothed margins. 

This information about Brugmansia 'Hetty Krauss' displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.